Darren Haydar has bade farewell to the Grand Rapids Griffins to chase a better opportunity to play in the NHL by signing with the Colorado Avalanche, as the Denver Post's Terry Frei notes:

July 6, Denver Post: The Avalanche announced today the signings of six players, including holdover wingers David Jones and Brian Willsie plus perennial minor-league star Darren Haydar, who scored 31 goals for the Detroit Red Wings' American Hockey League affiliate last season.

The other signings were three players who spent most or all of last season with Lake Erie - centers Chris Durno and Matt Hendricks, and goaltender Tyler Weiman.
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The most intriguing signing was that of Haydar, 29, who has managed to get on the ice for only 22 NHL games with Nashville and Atlanta. Two years ago, he led the AHL in scoring, with 122 points for the Chicago Wolves, and his diminutive stature - he's listed at 5-9 and 170 - has held him back. The former University of New Hampshire star signed as a free agent with Detroit last summer but spent the entire season with the Grand Rapids Griffins. If he doesn't crack the Avalanche roster, he would be considered a veteran leader for Lake Erie.

July 6, MLive.com: Haydar, 29, led the Griffins with 80 points (31 goals, 40 assists) last season, and was named to the American Hockey League's all-star second team.

The right wing signed with Detroit Red Wings last summer hoping to crack the lineup at some point during the regular season, but was unable to do so because of the team's deep and talented roster. Instead, he played 79 games for the Griffins.

Haydar's girlfriend Sarah battled throat cancer and had to have her larnyx removed, so his on-ice focus was lacking.

To some extent, Haydar has signed with the Avs so that he can remain in the Great Lakes area if he plays for the Cleveland-based Monsters--he's played with the Milwaukee Admirals and Chicago Wolves previously--so that he can be near his Chicago-residing girlfriend. Haydar very admittedly wasn't focusing on hockey for long stretches last season, and his point production suffered as a result. For now, he needs to be in an environment where he can regain his status as an AHL superstar while being close to his significant other, and I can only wish him the best.